First HortAid 2014 challenge confirmed as Twitter team tackle The Dirty Dozen to raise £20,000 for Perennial

A team of over 20 gardeners, landscapers, designers and TV presenters has formed via the power of social media to raise money for horticulture charity Perennial as part of its 175th Anniversary Appeal. The Grubby Gardeners will be running The Dirty Dozen, a 12km course designed by ex-British Special Forces featuring 12 military-style obstacles and lots of mud, on 5th April at Hopwood Farm in Kent.

Galvanised into action by Thompson & Morgan's planthunter and Ideal World TV presenter Michael Perry (aka @gardening_greek), names including David Lewis, Head Gardener of the Virgin owned The Roof Gardens, ITV This Morning's cheeky gardening duo The Benton Brothers and Adam, Dale Connolly aka The Skinny Jean Gardeners from Jimmy's Farm and our very own Marketing Manager Jamie Hill have all committed to helping raise over £20,000 for the UK's only charity dedicated to supporting horticulturists in need.

Speaking about his reasons for attempting the challenge, Michael Perry said, "I was invited to attend Perennial's 175th anniversary party at The Roof Gardens in January where I really began to understand what a difference the charity makes to people's lives. I owe my love of plants and gardening to my grandparents and wanted to pledge my support for the charity supporting horticulturists young and old with something a bit off the wall. Getting a team together to tackle The Dirty Dozen Races seemed perfect!"

Michael used Twitter to directly target people he thought might be up for the challenge, and to his delight over 20 have stepped up to the mark so far; "Places are still available and we'll take entries right up until the day. A certain level of fitness is required, but it really is just about having fun, getting caked in mud, and raising £20,000 for a really important industry charity."
Laura Garnett, Volunteer Support Officer at Perennial, is delighted with the support Michael and his team are giving the charity in its 175th anniversary year.
She said, "We're hoping to raise £175,000 this year to mark our anniversary. Michael's Grubby Gardeners are going to send us on our way. Perennial supports anyone working in or retired from gardening, with many of our clients describing the charity as a 'lifeline'. The funds raised through this challenge will go a long way to helping us support more horticulturists and their families get through times of hardship, illness, disability or bereavement this year. We'd like to thank them all for taking part!"

To donate to the Grubby Gardeners' Dirty Dozen challenge, visit http://www.justgiving.com/grubby-gardeners, email info@perennial.org.uk or call one of the Perennial team on 0845 230 1839. For all the latest news and tweets follow @PerennialGRBS and the hashtag #grubbygardeners on Twitter.

Those interested in joining Michael Perry tackle the Dirty Dozen Races, should contact him on michael_john_perry@hotmail.com or via Twitter @gardening_greek

The Grubby Gardeners team includes:

Michael Perry, Thompson & Morgan
Duana Pearson, Eden Project
Charles and Adam Benton, Benton Landscapes
Dale and Lee Connolly, The Skinny Jeans Gardeners
David Lewis and Clare O'Brien, The Roof Gardens, Kensington
Jack Dunkley, Birchfield Nursery
Ben Harrison, B H Designs
Darran Jacques, Urban Creations
Ben Preston, Audley End House & Gardens
Jamie Butterworth, Tom Bream and Ben Jones, students at RHS Garden Wisley
Bill Stacey, De Jager Bulbs
Lance Russell, plant sales assistant at Golden Acres Garden Centre in Hampshire
Marie Pollitt and Duncan McLean, The Garden Centre Group

Get involved:

Horticulture trade support for Perennial is certainly growing and the launch of HortAid in 2013 has helped to bring the charity to a wider audience. In 2013 a group of landscapers and nurserymen climbed the UK's three highest peaks, cycling between them, raising over £26,000 and a group of volunteers in Cornwall flew the UK's highest and longest zipwire raising over £3,000.
But raising £175 doesn't need to take you to extremes - why not have a cake sale, donate your pub quiz winnings, hold an auction of promises or take the opportunity to be sponsored to do something you've always fancied having a go at? Perennial can support you in your fundraising efforts so if you would like to get involved and can spare time this year to galvanise colleagues and friends to support Perennial, visit www.perennial.org.uk or contact the team on 01372 373962.

For more information visit www.perennial.org.uk
Follow Perennial on Twitter @PerennialGRBS
Like Perennial on Facebook

Established in 1839 by a group of wealthy landowners who wished to provide for their long-serving head gardeners in retirement, The Gardeners' Benevolent Institution began life as a pension fund. It soon attracted the attention of Victorian high society, who willingly supported the fund with annual donations and appearances at its annual fundraising dinner.

Perennial, as the same Institution is now known, still helps gardeners across the UK in retirement and has extended its reach to all professionals working in and retired from horticulture and their families. The charity provides a range of financial services to people experiencing hardship, and in the current economic climate is needed more than it ever was. In 2013 Perennial helped over 1,200 people, over 85% of whom were still of working age and a quarter of people needed help with debt. Perennial helps with debt advice, financial and general support, and often simply as a listening friend who can help make sense of a situation. The charity provided over £1.45m direct financial help in 2013.

Perennial's work extends to running two public access gardens - York Gate in Leeds and Fullers Mills in Suffolk. Events planned for 2014 include a garden designed by Jo Thompson in the Floral Marquee at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Special Events at gardens throughout the summer, HortAid 2014, a week of fundraising events in September and in 2014 Perennial is Harrogate Flower Show's Charity of the Year.

Martin Brookes Oakham

Friday, April 04, 2014